Arthur m



l1442014 STROP.

Patented June 23, 1891.

A. M. LAWRENCE.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR M. LAVRENCE, OF NEV YORK, N. Y.

RAZO R-STRO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,483, dated June 23, 1891.

Application filed January 17, 1891. Serial No. 378,082. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Razor- Strops, of which the following' is a specification.

My invention has for its main object to provide a construction of razor-strop of greater softnessor flexibility than heretofore,by Which the razor may be more evenly and quickly sharpened and without liability of turning or spoiling the edge thereof.

To these main ends m'y invention consists, primarily, of a razor-strop mounted upon a cushion, which may be filled with air, liquid, or other fluid, for the purpose of aiording a soft or yielding backing to the strop, and, secondarily, in certain features of construction or combinations of devices hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a plan view of a razor-strop embodying my invention, one ply of the handle portion be- 'ing turned back to exhibit the location of the valve or stopper. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section of the same with the handle portions in their normal positions. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken at the line .r a' of Fig. l. Figa is a similar section showing the cushion filled or expanded and ready for use, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the valve or stopper employed for filling the tube or cushion and closing the same thereafter.

In the several views the same part will be found designated by the same numeral of reference.

I have shown herein a razor-strop provided with two abrading-surfaces, which may be strips of leather or other suitable material, marked, respectively, 1 and 2; but so far as the main feature of my invention is concerned but one such surface may be employed. These strips l and2 are stitched together along their edges, as indicated by the dotted lines 3, forming an elongated casing or structure within which is inserted a cushion onbag 4, made preferably of vulcanized india-rubber and extending the whole length of the strop. The cushion or bag is preferably seamless or closed at one end 5, and at its other mouth end is provided with some suitable stopper or valvular con trivauce 6, which may be secured thereto by means of a wrapping cord or wire 7, as indicated at Fig. 5. At one end of the strop is arranged eyelet devices S, by which the same may be suspended, and at the other end are provided two tabs or handles 9, which maybe convenien tly grasped by the user when about to strap or sharpen the razor.

In practice I prefer to first attach the valve to the cushion, then lay the two piles of abrading material on opposite sides of the same, and then to secure the whole in position by stitching all around the edge, as indicated by the dotted lines. The contrivance may, however, be made by first sewing together the two parts of the strop proper and then pushing the cushion into the space between the same.

The valve may be of any desired construction, but I prefer that shown at Fig. 5, which consists of a hollow stem or tube l0, having a series of coarse threads or depressions 1l on its exterior surface, into which the mouth end of the cushion maybe forced by the binding cord or wire 7 to provide electually against any leakage at the point of connection between the valve and the cushion. The stem or tube is provided exteriorly with a threaded portion 12, upon which is screwed a hollow cap 13, provided with a tubular inwardly-projecting support let, having at its inner end a valve l5, of leather or rubber,

adapted to be seated or forced against the outer end of the stem or tube IO to prevent the escape of any iiuid from the cushion. The support la is provided on opposite sides with lateral ports or openings 1G, which communicate with the interior of the cap or shell 13 and with the cushion 4l when the valve is unseated.

lVhen thecontrivan ce is not in use, the cushion may be emptied of its fluid and the whole rolled or folded up into smaller compass for storage or convenience in transportation. lVhen it may be desired to use the strop, the cap or shell is partially unscrewed, as shown at Fig. 5, and the bag or cushion filled or partially filled with a suitable iluid. In practice I have thus 'far used and prefer air; but a gas or liquid may be employed.

The filling with air may be accomplished by holding the shell or cap to the mouth and blowing the air from the lungs through the ports 16 and the tube 10 into the bag or cushion until the parts have assumed about the condition represented at Fig. Il, or until the dcsiredquantity of air has been admitted. The shell is then screwed down until the valve 15 is seated against the mouth of the tube 10, thus preventing any escape of the air from the bag.

If a liquid be used, it may be poured into the bag and then confined by closing the valve or stopper.

In the use of the contrivance the razor is strapped in the usual way; but by reason of the presence of the cushion a softer, more flexible, or yielding device is presented, which enables the abradin g-surface to accommodate itselfnmore freely to the edge of the razor, with the :result that a longer line of contact is obtained between the edge of the razor and the abradingsurface, which enables the razor to be sharpened more uniformly and in less time and without liability of turning the edge at any stage of the operation.

That I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A razor-strop having a suitable abrading material mounted on a fluid bag or cushion, substantially as set forth.

2. A razor-strop having a suitable abrading material mounted on a Huid bag or cushion which is provided with a suitable valve or stopper, substantially as set forth.

3. A razor-strop consisting of two strips of abrading material and an intermediate fluid bag or cushion, substantially as set forth.

,14. A razor-strop consisting of two strips of abrading material united at their edges, and an intermediate fluid bag or cushion having a valve or stopper protruding at one end, substantially as set forth.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 9th day of January, A. D. 1891.

ARTHUR M. LAVRENCE.

Vitnesses:

ALBERT A. C oHEN, STANLEY A. COHEN. 

